By Fred Kajjubi
The police have expressed support for the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023 which aims at regulating alcohol consumption in the country. Deputy Inspector General of Police James Ochaya appeared before a joint parliamentary committee of trade and health and advocated for restricting the sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol by police officers in uniform or on duty.
The police argue that the existing laws on alcohol have been ineffective, contributing to problems such as domestic violence and traffic offenses.
They propose tightening restrictions on bars and encouraging liquor shops to promote responsible consumption.
Specifically, the police request that the bill make it a serious offense for anyone to sell alcohol to a uniformed officer or one on duty. They suggest amending clause 24 to criminalize the sale, purchase, use, and consumption of alcohol while on duty to enable police officers to maintain decorum.
Additionally, the police recommend that liquor vendors be required to evict customers who engage in violent behavior, especially those who enter bars with firearms.
To enforce the law, the police plan to introduce a new system where each sub-counties will have 18 officers monitoring bars that violate the law.
However, some MPs have raised concerns about the practicality of enforcing the law, questioning who will arrest officers who drink while on duty and whether the police can do so.
Others worry that restricting alcohol consumption in bars may lead to increased domestic violence and underage drinking at home.
The Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, introduced by Tororo MP Sarah Opendi, aims to regulate the hours of operation for bars, among other provisions.
